Culture kit

ABSTRACT

A CULTURE KIT INCLUDING A VIAL EXTERNALLY THREADED AT ITS TOP END AND THEREAT PROVIDED WITH AN ANNULAR VALVE   SEAT FOR A VALVE DISC MOLD-UNITED WITH THE TOP END OF A STEM WHOSE BOTTOM END IS SIMILARLY UNITED WITH THE TOP END OF A HOLDER FOR A CULTURE MEDIUM, SUCH AS AGAR, OR THE LIKE. THE HOLDER IS IN THE FORM OF A CUP-LIKE MEMBER PROVIDED AT ITS BOTTOM END WITH MEANS FOR CENTERING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER BOTTOM WALL OF THE VIAL. AN INTERNALLY THREADED CLOSURE CAP FOR THE VIAL IS PROVIDED FOR ADVANCEMENT ON THE THREADS OF THE VIAL TO SEAL THE INTERIOR THEREOF AND THE CULTURE CONTENTS OF THE SPOON.

United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 195-139 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A culture kit including a vial externally threaded at its top end and thereat provided with an annular valve seat for a valve disc mold-united with the top end of a stem whose bottom end is similarly united with the top end of a holder for a culture medium, such as agar, or the like. The holder is in the form of a cup-like member provided at its bottom end with means for centering engagement with the inner bottom wall of the vial. An internally threaded closure cap for the vial is provided for advancement on the threads of the vial to seal the interior thereof and the culture contents of the spoon.

This invention relates to improvements in containers for protecting microorganisms in cultivation and during transit from their source to medical laboratories for testing and analogous purposes.

The invention relates generally to improvements in culture kits nad more particularly to the type shown and described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 103,029 filed Dec. 3l, 1970, and now abandoned.

The principal objects of the present invention are:

To provide a culture kit of the character described including a vial made of molded high clarity styrene or polyvinyl chloride externally threaded at its top end and an internally threaded closure cap for the vial.

To provide an annular valve seat at the top end of the vial for cooperation with a valve disc molded integral with the top end of a stern whose bottom end is moldunited with a plastic spoon for containing a culture medium such as cystine lactose electrolyte deficient (C.L.E.D.), or the like, which will support the growth of common pathogenic bacteria found, for example, in the urinary tract and inhibit the spreading of Proteus species. Normally the vial with the spoon and handle therein is held in a vertical position.

To provide the bottom end of the spoon With a pointed extension for centering engagement with the concave inner bottom `wall of the vial, and a laterally extending pin to hold the spoon and its contents out of contact with the inside walls of the vial. 4

To provide the top wall of the closure cap with a central opening for projection therethrough of a stud extending upwardly from the valve disc for centering the stem of the spoon and the spoon relative to the interior of the vial as the cap is advanced on the threads of the vial. Thus compressive forces applied to the stern and spoon will maintan the spoon in stabilized engagement with the` eoncavity in the bottom wall of the vial.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof and in which:

FIG. l is an elevational View of a culture kit made in accordance with our invention with a fragment broken away to reveal internal parts.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a closure cap with a fragment broken away for convenience of illustration.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of FIG.v 3.

3,834,992 Patented Sept. 10, 1974 FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the closure cap removed and the vial section throughout its length. FIG. 6 is a side elevational View on an enlarged scale of the spoon, stem, and closure cap assembled as a unit removed from the vial and resting upon a plane surface.

FIG. 7 is a view of the left end of FIG. 6, and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the unit when suspended or held in a vertical positon.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing wherin like reference numerals designate like parts, numetal 1 indicates a vial preferably, though not restrictively, made of clear molded polycarbonate, open at its top end and provided with external threads 2. The top rim of the vial is beveled as shown to provide a valve seat 3 for cooperation with a valve disc 4, for sealing the interior of the vial when closed by a closure cap 4A as will be more fully hereinafter described.

The top of the slightly elevated bottom wall 5 of the vial is of conical shape as at 6 with its apex 7 on the longitudinal centerli-ke of the vial.

The unit for holding the culture medium comprises, in combination, a spoon or cup-like member 8 mold-united with one end of a stem indicated generally at 9 whose opposite end is mold-united with a valve disc 4 reinforced by a disc 11 having a central stud 12 extending outwardly therefrom and terminating in a slightly outwardly diverging head 13.

The stern 9 is of cruciform section (FIG. 6) by intersecting vertical anges 14 and laterally extending anges 15.

As best illustrated in FIG. 6 the spoon or cup-like member 8 and related parts are of molded plastic and comprise side walls 18, 19 (FIG. 5) an inner end wall 20, and an outer end wall 21, all being mold-united with a bottom wall 22. The side walls 18-19, are formed with inwardly extending flanges 23-24, and the end walls 20- 21 with similar flanges 2526.

Integral with and extending forwardly from the end Wall 21 of spoon 8 is a pointed extension 30 for centering engagement with the apex 7 of the concave bottom wall 5 of the vial and provided with a right angular spacer pin 31 for cooperating with the bottom wall 22 of the spoon 8 in keeping the spoon contents out of contact with the inner wall of the vial.

Since the culture medium such as C.L.E.D., agar or other similar culture medium is subject to transmutation into a fluid at and above normal room temperature I provide a detent which comprises a stem 33- molded at 34 to the bottom wall 22 of the spoon and because of its inherent flexibility can be bent downwardly from the full-line to the broken-line position for snap-engagement of its pointed end 35 with the underside of the flange 26 of the front wall 21 of the spoon 8.

'For guiding the detent 33 in its downward movement toward the locking position iust described I provide a post mold-united with the bottom kwall 22 of the spoon and provided with a central upwardly opening slot 41.

As best illustrated in FIG. 3 the top wall 12A of the closure cap 4A is provided lwith an upwardly and outwardly diverging opening 44 in open communication with a concentric downwardly opening recess 45 whose peripheral wall is tapered downwardly and inwardly as at 46 to Wedgingly hold the disc 11 (FIG. "6) and hence the valve disc 4 against the inner surface 47 of the cap 4A.

Assembly of the valve disc 4, and )cap 4A is facilitated by protrusion of the stud 12 and head 13 through the central opening 44 in the top wall of the closure cap.

By this arrangement the cup 8, stem 9 and closure cap 4A are assembled into a unit which may be withdrawn from the vial 1 and held in a vertical position as shown in FIG. 8 or placed upon a flat surface as shown in FIG.

3 6 and when so placed held against rolling by Contact of the parallel ridges 50 along the bottom wall 22 of the spoon 8 with said at surface.

However, should any accidental or unintentional rolling of the unit occur the culture medium will be held Within the cup 8 against migration by the detent 33 when locked to the ange 26 of the front wall 21 of the spoon.

What we claim is:

1. In a culture kit including a normally vertically disposed vial having a concave inner bottom wall,

said vial externally threaded at its top end,

said top end of said vial beveled to provide a Valve seat,

an internally threaded closure cap for removable threaded securement to said externally threaded top end of said vial and having a central opening therethrough,

a holder for a culture medium,

said holder comprising a cup-like member molded integral with the bottom end of a normally vertically disposed stem within said vial,

said cup-like member having flanges extending from the side walls of said cup-like member toward the interior thereof and an upwardly extending flexible detent formed integral with one wall of said cup-like member, said detent 'being able to be bent into engagement With one of said flanges of the cup-like l member, a valve disc molded integral with the top end of said stem and adapted for seating engagement with said valve seat,

a stud extending upwardly from said valve disc and eX- tensible through said central opening in said closure cap for centrally stabilizing said valve disc, stem and cup-like member relative to said vial,

whereby compressive forces applied by said closure cap when in a closed position will be transmitted through said stern and cup-like member to maintain said member in stabilized contact with said concave inner wall of said vial.

2. The culture kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein,

said detent is secured to the interior bottom wall of said cup-like member and extends toward the opposite end of said member for sprung engagement with one of said llanges thereof to retain a culture rnedium Within said cup-like member.

3. The improvement as claimed in claim 1 including a post integral with the bottom wall of said culture medium holder, said post having an upwardly opening slot thereacross for guiding the free end of said detent into engagement with said one of said flanges of said culture medium holder.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,487,912 l/1970 Michel --139 ALVIN E. TANENHOLTZ, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 206-1; 220`17 

